\WHY IS PROCESSING NECESSARY? WHY IS PROCESSING NECESSARY? Before we investigate reasons for processing natural ga, it would be helpful to carly what i ‘meant by processing. In this course, the answer wil vary slighty depending on the commodity tht we ae discussing A broad and simple definition for processing is “ihe receiving, handling, separation, treating, and storage of produced fluids in order to make them suitable forsale or disposal” "For our purposes in this course, that definition i suTicient as applied to rude oil and produced water. Crude oi ft ‘resent in an oil and gas operation that includes gas processing, is usualy processed in the fet only to the extent tat i is safe and suitable for storage and events! transportation ata refinery, where real rude oil processing occurs. Since refining is beyond the scone ofthis course, we will look only at ‘minimal crude oil processing for field purposes. This primarily entails erade stabilization, which evolves gas tat ean then be gathered and processed. Water produced with ol and gas contains salts and other contaminants that make it unsuitable for anything but disposal. Even water processing for disposal may involve steps that are beyond the scope ofthis couse ‘Our consideration of crude ol and water as pat of this course concludes with look at field storage and transportation specifications for crude’ oil and minimal water disporel specifications, mostly applicable to offshore opecations. “These specifications are primarily set by transporters and various regulatory bodies that govem the operation of Fld facilites. «200 hn Carga Company Al his eerie OVERVIEW OF GAS PROCESSING — TECHNICAL a